Slider for a linear slide system

ABSTRACT

A slider for a linear slide system has a body, a cycling frame, multiple rolling elements and two end plates. The body has a base and two leg portions. The leg portions are formed longitudinally near two sides of the base so that the body has a substantially U-shaped cross section. The cycling frame is mounted around the body and has two cycling passages, two ends and two sockets. The cycling passages are defined respectively around the leg portions. The sockets are formed respectively on the ends of the cycling frame. The rolling elements are rotatably and moveably held in the cycling passages. The end plates are inserted respectively into the sockets of the cycling frame.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a slider, and more particularly to a slider for a linear slide system.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional slider for a linear slide system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,170,986 comprises a body, two side frames and two end caps to form cycling passages for cycling rolling elements. Components of the conventional slider are numerous and are fastened to each other by fasteners. Structure and shape of the conventional slider are complicated.

Another conventional slider as shown in FIG. 1 of Taiwan Patent with an issue No. 440660 also has numerous components and is complicated. Another conventional slider disclosed in Taiwan Patent No. M267368 includes eight primary components and is also hard to assemble.

Therefore, the aforementioned conventional sliders have the following disadvantages that are unfavorable for minimizing the conventional sliders.

1. The structures of the conventional sliders are complicated and can not be manufactured easily.

2. Assembling the conventional sliders is inconvenient due to numerous joints between components.

3. The conventional sliders have numerous components and this causes that manufacturing the conventional sliders is hard.

When the conventional sliders are needed to be minimized, manufacturing and assembling of the conventional sliders are hard because of their numerous components and joints. So minimizing the conventional sliders is difficult and manufacturing a precise linear slide system with a minimized slider is not easy.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a slider for a linear slide system to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a slider for a linear slide system that has a simplified structure, is easy to be manufactured and can be minimized.

The slider for a linear slide system in accordance with the present invention comprises a body, a cycling frame, multiple rolling elements and two end plates.

The body having a base and two leg portions. The base has a left side, a right side, a front end and a rear end. The leg portions are formed and extended longitudinally near the sides of the base so that the body has a substantially U-shaped cross section.

The cycling frame are mounted around the body and has a left cycling passage, a right cycling passage, a front end, a rear end, a front socket and a rear socket. The left cycling passage is defined around the leg portion near the left side of the base. The right cycling passage is defined around the leg portion near the left side of the base. The front socket is formed on the front end of the cycling frame. The rear socket is formed on the rear end of the cycling frame.

Each end of the cycling frame comprises at least one protrusion formed on the end. Each end plate has an inner surface and at least one depression defined in the inner face and engaged respectively with the at least one protrusion in a corresponding end of the cycling frame.

The cycling frame comprises a left frame and a right frame. The left frame comprises a side bar, two arms and a receiving space. The side bar is mounted beside the leg portion near the left side of the base and has two sides and two ends. The arms are extended transversely and respectively from the ends of the side bar. The receiving space is defined between the side bar and the arms of the left frame, faces and receives a corresponding leg portion and has an inside surface. One of the arms of the left frame has a distal end and a hook formed on the distal end. The other arm of the left frame has a through hole defined through the arm.

The right frame of the cycling frame comprises a side bar, two arms and a receiving space. The side bar is mounted beside the leg portion near the right side of the base and has two sides and two ends. The arms are extended transversely and respectively from the ends of the side bar. The receiving space is defined between the side bar and the arms of the right frame, faces and receives a corresponding leg portion and has an inside surface. One of the arms of the right frame has a distal end and a hook formed on the distal end and corresponding to and engaging with the through hole in the arm of the left frame. The other arm of the right frame has a through hole defined through the arm and corresponding to and engaging with the hook on the arm of the left frame. The rolling elements are rotatably and moveably held in the left cycling passage and the right cycling passage.

The end plates are inserted respectively into the front socket and the rear socket of the cycling frame.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a slider for a linear slide system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the cycling frame of the slider in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the cycling frame with the body in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is another exploded perspective view of the cycling frame with the body in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the slider in FIG. 1 with the end plates being detached;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the slider in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a side view in partial section of the slider along line 7-7 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 8 is a side view in partial section of the slider along line 8-8 in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a linear slide rail with the slider in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, a slider for a linear slide system in accordance with the present invention comprises a body (10), a cycling frame (20), multiple rolling elements (50), and two end plates (60, 61).

The body (10) has a base (11) and two leg portions (12). The base (11) is rectangular and has a left side, a right side, a front end, a rear end and two positioning recesses (111). The positioning recesses (111) are circular and are defined respectively in the ends of the base (11). The leg portions (12) are formed on and extend longitudinally near the right and left sides the base (11) so that the body has a substantially U-shaped cross section. Each leg portion has two ends, two sides (121) and two blocking recesses (122). Each side (121) of the leg portion (12) is concave. The blocking recesses (122) are defined respectively in the ends of the leg portion (12).

With further reference to FIG. 8, the cycling frame (20) is mounted around the body (10) and comprises a left frame (30), a left retainer (21), a left cycling passage (22), a right frame (40), a right retainer (23), a right cycling passage (24), a front end, a rear end, a front socket (25), a front lubrication channels (26), a rear socket (27) and a rear lubrication channels (28).

The left frame (30) comprises a side bar (31), a front arm (32), a rear arm (33) and a receiving space (311). The side bar (31) of the left frame (30) is mounted beside the leg portion (12) near the left side of the base (11) and has two sides, a front end, a rear end, a return channel (312), two posts (315) and two studs (316). The receiving space (311) is defined between the side bar (31) and the arms (32, 33), faces and receives the corresponding leg portion (12) and has an inside surface. The return channel (312) comprises a longitudinal groove (313) and two C-shaped turnaround grooves (314). The longitudinal groove (313) is defined in the inside surface of the receiving space (311). The C-shaped turnaround grooves (314) are defined respectively in the ends of the side bar (31) and communicate with the longitudinal groove (313) and the receiving space (311). The posts (315) are formed respectively on the turnaround grooves (314) near the receiving space (311). The studs (316) are formed respectively on the posts (315), extend toward the receiving space (311) and are mounted respectively in the blocking recesses (122) of the corresponding leg portion (12). When the studs (316) are mounted respectively in the blocking recesses (122) of the corresponding leg portion (12), the left frame (31) is positioned relative to the corresponding leg portion (12).

The front arm (32) is extended transversely from the front end of the side bar (31) and is attached to the front end of the base (11). The front arm (32) has an outer surface, an inner surface, a distal end, an L-shaped recess (321), a hook (322), a positioning button (323), and a protrusion (324). The L-shaped recess (321) is defined in the outer surface. The hook (322) is formed on the distal end. The positioning button (323) is formed on the inner surface and is mounted in the positioning recess (111) on the front end of the base (11). The protrusion (324) is formed on the outer surface.

The rear arm (33) is extended transversely from the rear end of the side bar (31) and is attached to the rear end of the base (11). The rear arm (33) has an outer surface, an L-shaped recess (331), a through hole (332) and a protrusion (333). The L-shaped recess (331) is defined in the outer surface. The through hole (332) is defined through the rear arm (33). The protrusion (333) is formed on the outer surface.

The left retainer (21) is a rod and has two ends and two L-shaped mounting members (211). The L-shaped mounting members (211) are extended perpendicularly and respectively from the ends of the left retainer (21) and mounted respectively in the L-shaped recesses (321, 331) of the front arm (32) and rear arm (33).

The left cycling passage (22) for cycling the rolling elements (50) is defined around the corresponding leg portion (12) by the longitudinal groove (313), the turnaround grooves (314) of the left frame (30) and the left retainer (21).

The right frame (40) comprises a side bar (41), a front arm (42), a rear arm (43) and a receiving space (411). The side bar (41) of the right frame (40) is mounted beside the leg portion (12) near the right side of the base (11) and has two sides, a front end, a rear end, a receiving space (411), a return channel (412), two posts (415) and two studs (416). The receiving space (411) is formed between the side bar (41) and the front and rear arms (42, 43), faces and receives the corresponding leg portion (12) and has an inside surface. The return channel (412) comprises a longitudinal groove (413) and two C-shaped turnaround grooves (414). The longitudinal groove (413) is defined in the inside surface of the receiving space (411). The C-shaped turnaround grooves (414) are defined respectively in the ends of the side bar (41) and communicate with the longitudinal groove (413) and the receiving space (411). The posts (415) are formed respectively on the turnaround grooves (414) near the receiving space (411). The studs (416) are formed respectively on the posts (415), extend toward the receiving space (411) and are mounted respectively in the blocking recesses (122) of the corresponding leg portion (12). When the studs (416) are mounted respectively in the blocking recesses (122) of the corresponding leg portion (12), the right frame (40) is positioned relative to the corresponding leg portion (12).

The front arm (42) is extended transversely from the front end of the side bar (41) and attached to the front end of the base (11). The front arm (42) has an outer surface, an L-shaped recess (421), a through hole (422) and a protrusion (423). The L-shaped recess (421) is defined in the outer surface. The through hole (422) is defined through the front arm (42), corresponds and connects to the hook (322) of the front bar (32) of the left frame (30). The protrusion (423) is formed on the outer surface.

The rear arm (43) is extended transversely from the rear end of the side bar (41) and is attached to the rear end of the base (11). The rear arm (43) has an outer surface, an inner surface, a distal end, an L-shaped recess (431), a hook (432), a positioning button (433), and a protrusion (434). The L-shaped recess (431) is defined in the outer surface. The hook (432) is formed on the distal end and corresponds and connects to the through hole (332) of the rear arm (33) of the left frame (30). When the hooks (322, 432) and the through holes (332, 422) are engaged, the left frame (30) and the right frame (40) are interlocked and attached to each other to form the cycling frame (20). The positioning button (433) is formed on the inner surface and corresponds to and is mounted in the positioning recess (11) on the rear end of the base. When the positioning buttons (323, 433) are mounted respectively in the positioning recesses (111) of the base (11), the cycling frame (20) is positioned relative to the base (11). The protrusion (434) is formed on the outer surface.

The right retainer (23) is a rod and has two ends and two L-shaped mounting members (231). The L-shaped mounting members (231) are extended perpendicularly and respectively from the ends of the right retainer (23) and are mounted respectively in the L-shaped recesses (421, 431) of the front arm (42) and rear arm (43).

The right cycling passage (24) for cycling the rolling elements (50) is defined around the corresponding leg portion (12) by the longitudinal groove (413), the turnaround grooves (414) of the left frame (40) and the left retainer (23).

The front end of the cycling frame (20) is constituted by the front arms (32, 42) of the left frame (30) and the right frame (40).

The rear end of the cycling frame (20) is constituted by the rear arms (33, 43) of the left frame (30) and the right frame (40).

The front socket (25) is formed on the front end of the cycling frame (20).

The front lubrication channel (26) is formed on front end of the cycling frame (20) and has two ends, a middle and a recess (261). The ends of the front lubrication channel (26) are communicated respectively with the turnaround grooves (314, 414) near the front end of the cycling frame (20). The recess (261) is formed in the middle of the front lubrication channel (26).

The rear socket (27) is formed on the rear end of the cycling frame (20).

The rear lubrication channel (28) is formed on front end of the cycling frame (20) and has two ends, a middle and a recess (281). The ends of the front lubrication channel (28) are communicated respectively with the turnaround grooves (314, 414) near the rear end of the cycling frame (20). The recess (281) is formed in the middle of the front lubrication channel (28).

The rolling elements (50) are rotatably and moveably held in the left cycling passage (22) and the right cycling passage (24) to allow the slider move at a lowered friction.

With reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the end plates (60, 61) are inserted respectively into the front socket (25) and the rear socket (27) of the cycling frame (20) and each end plate (60, 61) has an inner surface, two depressions (601, 611) and a lubrication hole (602, 612). The depressions (601, 611) are defined in the inner surface and engaged respectively by the protrusions (324, 423, 333, 434) of the left frame (30) and the right frame (40) to position the end plate (60, 61) to the cycling frame (20). The lubrication hole (602, 612) is defined through the end plate (60, 61) and communicates with the lubrication recess (261, 281). Lubricant can be charged into the cycling passages (22, 24) through the lubrication hole (602, 612), the lubrication recess (261, 281) and the lubrication channel (26, 28) for lubricating the rolling elements (50).

With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, when the slider in accordance to the present invention is in use, the slider is slidably mounted on a linear slide rail at a low friction with the endless cycling movement of the rolling elements (50) in the cycling passages (22, 24).

The slider as described has the following advantages. The structure of the slider is simplified and numbers of components of the slider are reduced, so the slider is easy and fast to be manufactured and assembled. In addition, the components of the slider are mounted to each other by interlocking or engaging, such as the end plates (60, 61) and the cycling frame (20), so joints of the slider are reduced and assembling the slider is convenient. Furthermore, bolts or other fasteners are unnecessary for assembling the slider, so the volume of the slider can be minimized to achieve the demand of manufacturing a precise linear slide system.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A slider for a linear slide system comprising: a body having a base having a left side; a right side; a front end; and a rear end; and two leg portions being formed and extended longitudinally near the left and right sides of the base; a cycling frame being mounted around the body and having a left cycling passage being defined around the leg portion near the left side of the base; a right cycling passage being defined around the leg portion near the left side of the base; a front end; a rear end; a front socket being formed on the front end of the cycling frame; and a rear socket being formed on the rear end of the cycling frame; multiple rolling elements being rotatably and moveably held in the left cycling passage and the right cycling passage; and two end plates being inserted respectively into the front socket and the rear socket of the cycling frame.
 2. The slider for a linear slide system as claimed in claim 1 wherein each end of the cycling frame comprises at least one protrusion formed on the end; and each end plate has an inner surface and at least one depression defined in the inner face and engaged respectively with the at least one protrusion in a corresponding end of the cycling frame.
 3. The slider for a linear slide system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the cycling frame comprises a left frame comprising a side bar being mounted beside the leg portion near the left side of the base and having two sides; and two ends; two arms being extended transversely and respectively from the ends of the side bar; and a receiving space being defined between the side bar and the arms of the left frame, facing and receiving a corresponding leg portion and having an inside surface, wherein one of the arms has a distal end and a hook formed on the distal end; and the other arm has a through hole defined through the arm; and a right frame comprising, a side bar being mounted beside the leg portion near the right side of the base and having two sides; and two ends; two arms being extended transversely and respectively from the ends of the side bar; and a receiving space being defined between the side bar and the arms of the right frame, facing and receiving a corresponding leg portion and having an inside surface, wherein one of the arms has a distal end and a hook formed on the distal end and corresponding to and engaging with the through hole in the left frame; and the other arm has a through hole defined through the arm and corresponding to and engaging with the hook on the left frame.
 4. The slider for a linear slide system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the base further comprises two positioning recesses defined respectively in the ends of the body; one of the arms of left frame has an inner surface and a positioning button formed on the inner surface and mounted in one of the positioning recesses in the base; and one of the arms of right frame has an inner surface and a positioning button formed on the inner surface and mounted in the other one of the positioning recesses.
 5. The slider for a linear slide system as claimed in claim 4, wherein each leg portion has two ends and two blocking recesses defined respectively in the ends of the leg portion; and the side bar of each one of the right and left frames further comprises a return channel comprising a longitudinal groove being defined in the inside surface of the receiving space of the frame; and two turnaround grooves being defined respectively in the ends of the side bar and communicated with the longitudinal groove and the receiving space of the frame; two posts being formed respectively on the turnaround grooves near the receiving space of the frame; and two studs being formed respectively on the posts, extending toward the receiving space and mounted respectively in the blocking recesses of a corresponding leg portion.
 6. The slider for a linear slide system as claimed in claim 3, wherein each leg portion further has two ends and two blocking recesses defined respectively in the ends of the leg portion; and the side bar of each one of the right and left frames further comprises a return channel comprising a longitudinal groove being defined in the inside surface of the receiving space of the frame; and two turnaround grooves being defined respectively in the ends of the side bar and communicated with the longitudinal groove and the receiving space of the frame; two posts being formed respectively on the turnaround grooves near the receiving space of the frame; and two studs being formed respectively on the posts, extending toward the receiving space and mounted respectively in the blocking recesses of a corresponding leg portion. 